THE AMERICAN FLAG

[pyropappy]

I think most of those who are serving or have served our country militarily do so out of patriotism and national commitment, which I respect and appreciate.

But, plenty of others do so because they like the idea of warfare, or for job opportunities, or other personal reasons.............and too many in both camps go untreated when active duty leaves them traumatized.

I've commented in a couple of the crime forum threads about how many of the mass, spree and cop killers over the last several years have been veterans.

Anyway, the flag doesn't mean the same thing to all people being served. And, the flag doesn't mean the same thing to everyone serving; that was clear during the 2016 election cycle. When candidate Trump threatened to make flag desecration a federal crime again, some active service members and veterans applauded his proposal -- they see desecrating the symbol as dangerous to national pride, disrespectful to their service, and something that should be prohibited by law.

At the same time, other current and former members of the U.S. military loudly opposed and protested Trump's proposal -- they see flag burning as constitutionally-protected free speech and expression, a key principle of what the flag means to them and why they chose to serve.

you don't know shit.

when you hold the children of a fallen soldier during his funeral, let us know how you feel.

when you go to friends house in the middle of the night to stop him from harming himself or his family, tell us all about your feelings

when you have a knock down drag out bloody knuckle fight with a friend because he doesn't know who you are and feels threatened, by all means express your feelings.

till then shut the fuck up you hypocrite.

i have done all those things more times then i care to remember. until you do that you won't have a clue what those soldiers think.